Acquired Tastes XLIII:
Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 221
Rough Trade
Part 15 of 19
Today, we take another look at the Rough Trade imprint.
Brought to you by the good people at Star Distributors, LTD., the Rough Trade imprint published 224 titles, from 1974-1990. Star Distributors, LTD. operated out of a P.O. Box at the Canal Street Station in New York City.
The imprint's numbering system begins with RT-401, and continues thusly. The book number only appears on the spine of the book.
All the books feature the imprint's distinctive Rough Trade logo in the upper left of the book's cover. The books cover design consists of an all-caps (typically) title in a banner of orange or baby blue near the top. A frame is created by two white stripes descending from the top banner to a thin banner (orange or baby blue) containing the word 'Illustrated' - for the books are, with drawings throughout. At the center of the cover there is an explicit illustration - some ink/pencil, some woodcut/etching - all by various popular gay artists of the time, including Craig Esposito, Adam, Michael, etc.
Did I mention that there are illustrations throughout each book? Well, yes, there are, by the same artist as the cover art. Something for every chapter - so a daunting task for the illustrator, for sure.
Oddly, the early books in the series do not have a publisher's page. Price point for the books began at 2.25 and increased (by various increments) to $3.95. Typically, you can buy these books today for between $25-45.
The back covers sometimes feature a synopsis of the book to entice readers or advertisement for one of Star Distributors' other imprints. Ads also appear at the front or back of the book - offering books, videos, and sex toys.
Here are the next dozen titles. Came up short five times this week. Some of these titles are wonderfully outrageous.
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Hard Hat Hard-Ons
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1985
RT-569
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Lifeguard’s Thick Ten-Incher
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1985
RT-570
(Cover not found.)
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Wrangler Roper
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1985
RT-571
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Team Rape Frenzy
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1985
RT-572
ailable as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Biker's Hot Oil Boy
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1985
RT-573
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D.I.'s Big Stick
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1985
RT-574
(Cover not found.)
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Brother’s Toy
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1985
RT-575
(Cover not found.)
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San Quentin Slaveboy
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1985
RT-576
ailable as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Sing Sing Slaveboy
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1986
RT-577
ailable as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Hard Duty Truckers
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1986
RT-578
(Cover not found.)
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Big Black Bruiser
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1986
RT-579
ailable as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Mean Sailor’s Sex Toy
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1986
RT-580
(Cover not found.)
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And that's all for now.
Next up: Twelve more tantalizing titles from the Rough Trade imprint.
Until then...
Thanks for reading!
San Quentin - Johnny Cash
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